"Mauritius"

"Mauritius" is a play that is about a girl who had two Mauritius "Post Office" stamps: "One Penny" and "Two Pence" and tried to sell them. They were worth a lot because people supposed to print "Post Paid" on a stamp, not "Post Office" as these two Mauritius stamps. There were only five hundred of each value printed at that time. In the play, the main character, Jackie had both of them which belonged to her step-sister, Mary's grandfather. They supposed to belong to Mary after their mother's death but Mary wasn't here when their mother was dying. Mary wanted them back but Jackie wanted to sell them because they were worth a lot.

One of the themes in the play is different people have different opinions. In the "Mauritius", Jackie and Dennis wanted to sell the two "Post Office" stamps in exchange of money. Mary and Philip were kind of opposite. They thought these two stamps were belonged to the world, not for a specific person or for the money.

Another example of the play is to believe yourself and not to believe what you are not sure. Mary and Philip lie to Jackie that the two "Post Office" weren't real. Jackie believed them and let them get the stamps. She shouldn't believe her and asked some evidences about the two stamps.

In my opinion, I think Mary was the right person and she had the right to get the stamps. It is because those stamps were from her own grandfather, not Jackie's grandfather. She was the only one who had the right to decide the stamps' future --- were sold or sat at a museum. Also, I think she should help Jackie to solve the problem of her bills by selling them. Comparing this to my older sister, I think we have better relationship than they had. Although we always have fights, the fights aren't that big and we will talk happily a second after. I think it is a interesting play.

O Brother, Where ART Thou? <-----> The Alchemist

The movie "O Brother, Where ART Thou?" has some similarities and differences between the book "The Alchemist". In the "The Alchemist", Santiago has to start a journey in order to find his treasure. In the movie " O Brother, Where ART Thou?", the main characters Everett, Pete and Delmar also have a journey to find their treasure. The difference is that they are not alone in their journey. Although they sometimes would have different opinions at different things. At least, they can have someone to save each other when they meet some challenges. They can use teamwork to solve the problem together. In the book "Lirael", the main character, Lirael, released a Free Magic dangerous creature inside the library. Although she held it inside the room, her spell couldn't held it that long and forever. She needed to find the way to bind it. Her new and only friend, the Disreputable Dog, brought her courage to face the dangerous creature. That is why Everett, Pete, and Delmar might have a easier time than Santiago.

Santiago's Decision?! Sabriel's Decision?! CONNECTION!!

In "The Alchemist", Santiago decided to tell the chieftains about the omen he observed from the two hawks. He discovered that the oasis was dangerous and he wanted to do something to help with this bad situation. He knew if it wasn't true, it will bring him the death only. In his situation, he was so confusion what to do next.



This scene remained me that "Sabriel" seemed had a similar situation. Sabriel decided to go to the Wyverley College to get more helpers to destroy the Kerrigor's "body". She knew that this decision will bring her classmates danger only. She had no choice and it was her responsibility to save the world. The similarity between these two decision is they both had a chance to cause death after they decided to do it. The difference between them is Santiago's decision might cause his own death but Sabriel's decision might cause her classmates' death, not her own.

At the end of "Sabriel", Sabriel's decision caused some of her classmates and teachers dead. I think it still worth it because it saved the other people.

"You lose something small but you get something big back."

However, I still haven't finished "The Alchemist" yet. I am so excited to know what is going to happen next. ( > v < )

Symbols in The Alchemist

Symbol #1 --- Crystals

Definition : (noun)

1. A homogeneous solid formed by a repeating, three-dimensional pattern of atoms, ions, or molecules and having fixed distances between constituent parts.

2. A mineral, especially a transparent form of quartz, having a crystalline structure, often characterized by external

3. A high-quality, clear, colorless glass.planar faces.

Background :
1. There are a form where the atoms, molecules, ions and particles arranged in an organized 3 Dimension way.

2. This word is derived from the ancient Greek word κρύσταλλος (krustallos) which means "ice" and "freezing".

3. In literature, they have the meaning of "pureness" and "cleanness".

My thought :

In my memory, I think crystals are the most expensive things in the world and only the rich people can have a chance to get them. They are "living" in a worth, clean and the best world. In "The Alchemist", I think they are the symbols of the cleanness and the importance of the Personal Legends. Crystals bring me the feelings of pureness and happiness. It just likes when someone reach his/her own Personal Legend, they are successful in his/her life. It means he/she is the highest person than anybody else. Crystals are seemed the most beautiful, highest things in the world, just like the people aren't like the one who gives up to reach their Personal Legends. It means if Santiago reaches his Personal Legend, he would become the top one in his life.

Symbol #2 --- Narcissus

Definition : (noun)
1. Any bulbous plant belonging to the genus Narcissus, of the amaryllis family, having showy yellow or white flowers with a cup-shaped corona.

2. The flower of any of these plants.

Background :

1. ( Classical Mythology ) A youth who fell in love with his own image reflected in a pool and wasted away from unsatisfied desire, where upon he was transformed into the flower.

2. ( 1983 Film : Black Narcissus ) It is a psychological drama about the emotional tensions, based on the novel of the same name by Rumer Godden.

3. ( Painting : Narcissus ) It is a painting by an Italian Baroque master Caravaggio, 1597~1599, Oil in Canvas, 110 cm × 92 cm (43 in × 36 in).

My thought :

When I hear the word "Narcissus", my brain would appear the story of Narcissus immediately, rather than that type of flowers. I think the appearance of the flower narcissus has some relationships with the mythology "Narcissus". The flower narcissus gives people a feeling of pure and angelical because of the white color. The people who are narcissus may think they have the most beautiful and pureness face in the world so they are kind of connect each other.

Symbol #3 --- Alchemy /Alchemists

Definition : (noun)

1. A person who is versed in or practices alchemy. (Alchemist)

2. A form of chemistry and speculative philosophy practiced in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance and concerned principally with discovering methods for transmuting baser metals into gold and with finding a universal solvent and an elixir of life. (Alchemist)

3. Any magical power or process of transmuting a common substance, usually of little value, into a substance of great value. (Alchemist)

Background :

1. (Film : The Alchemist) It is a 1984 film about a man who desires to avenge a curse placed on him by an evil magician.

2. (Japanese Manga : Fullmetal Alchemist) It is about two alchemists brothers who want to restore their bodies after a disastrous failed attempt to bring their mother back to life through alchemy.

3. (Band : Alchemist) It is an Australian heavy metal from Canberra, combining death metal, progressive rock, psychedelic, Eastern, aboriginal, and electronic influences.

My thought :

In my opinion, I think the alchemy is kind of the same as the magic. The only difference is the alchemy is used by the chemical rules, which is the balancing equation. In the other hand, the alchemists are the chemists and the scientists. It looks kind of easy to use alchemy but actually it isn't. The alchemy is so complicant that normal people can't use it. I think the alchemist is kind of like the highest, smartest person in The Alchemist.

My impression on Santiago's road of LIFE

I think this picture is kind of explain what a LIFE is. In the Alchemist, Santiago chose to find his treasure, rather than went back to Spain as a successful man. In this picture, it shows a lot of "choices". The roads seem to represent that different choice can bring you to different future, but it was only a photo of the "processes". If Santiago chose to go back to Spain and never thought about to reach his own Personal Legend, this "road" will bring him to a completely different future. What I mean is: Every choices can "light" and "bring" you your future road. I don't know his choice can bring him to what kind of future and we can't know what is going to happen in the "front" road. That's why LIFE is interesting!!

Sabriel -- The Old Kingdom and ME

Today, I am going to talk about the connection between me and the story.



Sabriel went to the Old Kingdom, in order to discover what was going on on his Father. After she found his father's house, she needed to get out of it and to get away from the Mordicant. When she drove the Paperwing with Mogget (the Free Magic creature servant of Abhorsen), she met some Gore Crows on the way to Belisaere. In order to get away from the Grow Crows, she released Mogget's collar. Then, she even needed to fight with Mogget and tried to bind him again. (Summary)



All the things Sabriel was doing seemed that she made some "troubles" and then used the other "troubles" to fill up those "troubles". What I mean is : first, she was followed by Mordicant(trouble#1). Then, she went to his father's house to get away from it. She used Paperwing to escape. Unfortunately, she still met some Gore Crows (trouble#2) . Next, in order to "fill up" trouble #2, she released Mogget's collar( trouble#3). For example, you borrow $ from Bank. A and then you use the $, which is borrowed from Bank. B, to return to Bank. A. Then, you use the other $ from Bank. C to pay back the $. At the end, you will never "really" return the $. Actually, I always see this scene in the movie...

The Alchemist #2

I know Santiago was an adventure boy in the beginning of The Alchemist. He learned more things on the way while he was getting to the Pyramids than only being a shepherd. At first , he was just liked everybody else that he was afraid to “change”. He never thought about to follow his recurrent dream if the old king did’t show up. He never knew anything about omens. He never knew how to observe and read the omens. I think the old king became his HERO in his heart. When he met something challenged himself, his mind always showed up the time when the old king was talking to him. He earned a lot of experiences during the time he was with the old king even he wasn't realised. Santiago was close to become a successful man.